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Review of John Owen, Daily Readings, ed. by Lee Gatiss, Fearn: Christian Heritage, 2022.

In recent times, daily readings have swamped the Christian book market, and eventually someone was bound to tackle John Owen, the most exhaustive and (usually) unquotable of the Puritans. Lee Gatiss has, however, done a fine work in providing the reader with a diet of Owen each day.

There are some surprises in store for anyone who has been raised to be fearful of Owen. He displays a generosity of spirit that many consider he did not possess. He was a man of God’s Word, and hence considered that ‘one Scripture, in its plainness and simplicity, will be of more use for the end I aim at than twenty academic arguments, pressed with never so much accurateness and subtlety’ (April 7). Accordingly, he warns against reading theologians and neglecting the Scriptures, and even cites the Jesuit, Acosta: ‘The one who reads the Scriptures with the purity of their soul will have more advantage than the one who attempts to unravel mysteries with many commentaries’ (June 8). Verses such as Isaiah 8:20; Acts 17:11; John 5:39, 46-47; Luke 16:29 imply that the Scripture is above the Church.

Owen recognised that the term ‘irresistible grace’ could give the wrong impression, and so he spoke of ‘a sweet effectual working’ (January 14). Furthermore, ‘Many people receive more grace from God than they understand or will own. People may be really saved by that grace which doctrinally they do deny; and they may be justified by the imputation of that righteousness which, in opinion, they deny to be imputed’ (Sept.25). One would not want to run too far with that, but Owen said it.

On Romans 14:10 the sharp-minded theologian revealed himself to be also a tender-hearted pastor: ‘Most people act in themselves and towards others as if they were themselves liable to no mistakes, and that it is an inexpiable crime in others to be in anything mistaken. The consideration of this should affect us with tenderness and forbearance towards those who dissent from us, and whom we therefore judge to err and be mistaken’ (July 26). For ourselves, we are weakness itself … There are traitors in our hearts (May 23).

The Puritans had some clear things to say to the magistrate concerning his duties. Owen, for example, stated that ‘A throne without the gospel is but the devil’s dungeon’ (Jan.26). Yet he also argued against using the magistrate to counter heresy (Feb.19), and considered that an unbeliever may become a lawful magistrate. ‘I shall not suspend my obedience whilst I inquire after my lawful governor’s conversion’ (May 30).

Limited atonement did not limit the extent of love. ’Love toward all mankind in general we acknowledge to be required of us. Even towards the infidel, pagan, and Islamic world, Jews and Gentiles, we owe the duty of love’ (August 2). He hoped for the conversion of the Islamic world, ‘in God’s good and appointed time’ (May 29). ‘Unless we have hearts like flint or rock, we cannot but be moved with compassion towards so many perishing souls, originally made like ourselves, in the image of God. If we differ in anything from them it is an effect of mere sovereign grace, and not the fruit of our own contrivance nor the reward of our worth or merit.’ (August 2) Electing grace makes for loving graciousness.

Sin is to be taken most seriously. He noted that many parents take no notice of the sinful follies, extravagancies and misbehaviour of their children (Sept 3). He also considered that ‘it is in vain to recommend the doctrine of justification to those who neither desire nor endeavour to be justified’ (Sept.22). ‘Often where there are most blossoms there is least fruit’ (Oct.28). Also in his experience ‘Few sexually immoral or profane persons ever come to repentance’ (Dec.16). In the end, he urged what he called ‘holy love’ to all who profess the name of Christ’ (Dec.17).

There is much more, but here is Owen as theologian and pastor, and readers will draw strength and insight from what is recorded for us in this set of daily readings.

– Peter Barnes